India: SC Strikes Down Section 497 Of The IPC On Adultery

The Supreme Court bench led by CJI, Dipak Misra earlier today struck down Section 497 of the Indian penal code (IPC) which criminalized adultery. The case was brought before the court by Joseph Shine, an Italy-based business whose native hometown is in Kerala. Under Section 497 of the IPC, adultery is a criminal offense punishable with a 5 years jail term. Shine in his PIL argued that section 497 is discriminatory because it permits a man to file complaints but disallows the woman. Shine also contended that the adultery law viewed a woman as a man’s property. He, therefore, prayed the court to quash that part of the IPC. The court in its ruling said the practice of treating a man as the master is highly Unconstitutional.

India: SC Upholds Lok Sabha’s Approval Of Aadhaar Bill As Money Bill

The Supreme Court bench led by the CJI, Dipak Misra on Wednesday upheld the passage of Aadhaar bill as a money bill by Congress. The case was brought before the apex court by the Rajya Sabha MP, Jairam Ramesh who doubles as the Congress leader. Ramesh had argued through his lawyer, one mister P Chidambaram that it was Unconstitutional to regard the Aadhaar bill as a money bill, hence prayed the apex court to intervened.

UK: UK’s Justice System Under Threat, SC Judge Says

A senior Supreme Court Judge in the United Kingdom, Lord Wilson on Wednesday said access to justice is increasingly becoming difficult because the country’s system of legal aid is being eroded by the government. Justice Wilson made this known at Northwestern University’s law school in Chicago while addressing a gathering of advocates and students during a law conference. Before joining the Supreme Court, Wilson was a specialist in family law. He described the UK’s Human Rights Act as brilliant and called on the government to keep improving.

India: Consensual Gay Sex: UN Official Urges Other Countries To Emulate India

A United Nation Commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday urged other countries of the world to emulate the landmark judgment of the Indian Supreme Court which decriminalized the practice of consensual gay sex. The UN top official made this remarks during an event to host Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) dubbed “violence against LGBTI persons”.

India: Tax Law Committee Favours The Abolition Of DDT

A committee led by Arbind Modi to draft new legislation on taxation on Wednesday said it has adopted the abolition of dividend distribution tax and securities transaction tax. The panel expressed readiness to revert to the earlier method of obtaining tax dividend from shareholders. The committee’s main terms of reference is to ensure the free flow of foreign direct investment into the country. Recall that the dividend distribution tax was a huge burden on foreign investors.

UAE: Laws To Smoothened Tenants-Landlord Relationships Underway

A new law to smoothen the relationship between landlords and tenants in currently underway in Dubai, reports say. This was revealed by the Supreme Legislation Committee’s General Secretary, Ahmad Saeed bin Mashar on Wednesday in Dubai. According to Ahmad, the new law is expected to birth before the end of 2018. Ahmad added that the new law will improve and increase competition in the city’s real estate sector, as well as protect both tenants and landlords.

India: SC Approves Live Streaming Of Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court bench led by the CJI, Dipak Misra on Wednesday approved the live coverage of court proceeding in order for the masses to get first-hand information about a case. The court asserted that it would soon draft guidelines that would protect the right of both litigants and the public while the live streaming is ongoing. The court gave it nod on live streaming after hearing several pleas from a law student, senior advocate, and an NGO.

India: MHA Directs States, UTs To Broadcast Legal Consequences On Mob Violence

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday called on the Union Territories and States to fully broadcast and publicise all the legal consequences relating to mob violence. The Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has expressed readiness to kick-start a campaign on radio and TV which would sensitize members of the public on the consequences of mob lynching. Recall that over 34 mob-related deaths have been recorded in the last 12 months.

US: Consumers’ Protection Privacy: Google, Amazon, Apple, Others Lobby Congress To Pass Bill

Technology and Internet giants, including Google, Amazon, Apple, AT&T, and other companies on Wednesday lobbied the US Congress to pass a bill that would protect the privacy of consumers online. Senior executives from these companies made a presentation during the Congress session on Wednesday. They contended that different states with different privacy laws will disrupt their businesses and impedes innovation. They called on the Congress to consider drafting a federal privacy bill.

India: Conditions Of Government Hospitals: Delhi HC Requests Fresh Status Report From State Government

The Delhi High Court bench of Justices Rajendra Menon and V Kameswar Rao on Wednesday lambasted the state over the poor condition of government-owned hospitals. The bench expressed utter disappointment in the handling of infrastructure in the hospital and directed the state government to submit before it a fresh status report detailing the hospital’s condition. The bench gave the direction after hearing a plea by a school teacher who sued the government for the death of her nine months old unborn baby due to infrastructural decay at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital.

India: Madras HC Installs Disabled-Friendly Toilets At The Court Premises

Following a recent report in the media highlighting the plight of disabled persons who visit the court, the Madras high court on Wednesday installed toilets that are disabled friendly. According to the report, the toilets come with accessories like railings and ramps. In the report, most of the disabled persons had complained that they avoided food and water before visiting the court in order not to use the restroom.

South Africa: Government To Overhaul Visa Rules Next Month

The South African government on Wednesday expressed readiness to Overhaul the country’s visa rules before the end of October. This was made known in Pretoria by the Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba during a press conference to sensitize members of the public on the steps taken by the government to promote tourism and improve the ease of doing business amid recession which the country is battling with. Gigaba said foreigners who are minors would no longer tender their birth certificate and parental consent before entering the country.

Zimbabwe: The US Urges Zimbabwe To Amend Press Freedom Laws

A United States diplomat for Africa, Tibor Nagy on Wednesday called on the Zimbabwean government to consider amending the laws that prevent press freedom and protest against the government. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act are currently being viewed as undemocratic. Recall that the Zimbabwean government had enacted those laws in a bid to prevent a journalist from reporting government activities.

Canada: Canada’s Creation Of LGBTQ Community Stalls

The plan for Canada to create the first LGBTQ Community has been stalled following the refusal of the new government to provide adequate funding for the project. In March 2018, the funds for the project had been approved by the provincial government before leaving office, but the new Progressive Conservatives have stalled the project by calling for a review of the project’s funding.